Health Trusts Accused Of Being 'Slow Payers'

Although firms that are slow to pay their suppliers are usually just an annoying cash-flow problem, there has been a claim that local health trusts not paying their bills on time is risking stocks of vital medical supplies.

Stephen McCarroll, from Surgery Systems Ireland, said that the Belfast Trust alone had 170 invoices currently outstanding and insisted that the continued supply of essential medical products to hospitals in Northern Ireland has been put in jeopardy.

According to the BBC, Mr McCarroll said stocks in some hospitals were running low: "We have already been notified that a Belfast hospital has completely run out of nebuliser kits," he said.

However, in a statement, the Belfast Trust said its payment policy was consistent with the CBI prompt payment code and the Government accounting rules.

The Trust said Surgery Systems Ireland had received a payment this month, with a further payment scheduled for this week.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety said: "The target set for all health and social care trusts is to pay 95% of valid invoices within 30 days," noting that the Department has recently advised Trusts to settle invoices within 10 days as a response to the current economic downturn.

In counterpoint to the Surgery Systems' claims, the Belfast Trust insisted that it paid 90% of its invoices within the 30 day target, In 2007-08.

(BMcC/JM)